Hurricane Ian Closures, Garbage Pick-Up Ends Tuesday, Sandbags: City

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — As Hurricane Ian makes its way toward Florida, the city of St. Petersburg will be closed for normal business operations on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tropical storm conditions will impact West Central Florida starting late Tuesday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. update on Ian.

Hurricane-force winds will be possible in the hurricane watch area — which consists of most of the Tampa Bay area — starting Wednesday morning, the agency said.

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Heavy rain is expected to fall across the Florida Keys and South Florida starting Tuesday and should spread to central and northern Florida Wednesday and Thursday, NHC said.

The city’s garbage pickup will continue through end-of-day Tuesday, while recycling services will end Tuesday at noon.

Sanitation phone lines will remain open Tuesday to ensure special pickup of items that could become flying debris during the hurricane.

Sandbags are also available through the city at the following locations:

• Lake Maggiore Park: 3601 Dr. MLK Jr. Street S., prefilled bags
• Mangrove Bay Golf Course: 875 62nd Avenue NE, prefilled bags
• Northwest Pool: 2331 60th Street N., prefilled bags
• Azalea Park: 1600 72nd Street N., self-serve only
• Lake Vista Park - 1401 62nd Ave. S., self-serve only

Sunken Gardens will be closed starting Tuesday until further notice.